Accessible Public Transport Watch Project

Accessible Public Transport Watch Project

Accessible Public Transport Watch Project A statewide consultative report of experiences in accessing Victoria’s public transport system by people with a disability July – October – 2007 © 2008 Victorian Council of Social Service Design and layout: Anna Tito This publication is copyright. Apart from fair dealings as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, non profit organisations have permission to reproduce part of the book not exceeding 10% of any section as long as credit is given to VCOSS and no charge is made by any such organisation with respect to any use made of the material. Copies of this publication are available from Victorian Council of Social Service Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street MELBOURNE VIC 3000 T 03 9654 5050 F 03 9654 5749 E [email protected] ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WatCH PROJECT Acknowledgements: The project partners; - The Victorian Council of Social Service (VCOSS) - The Disability Resources Centre (DRC) - The Disability Advocacy & Information Service (DAIS) Would like to acknowledge and thank the participants of this project who gave up significant hours of their time attending information sessions, travelling on various modes of public transport and documenting their experiences. For many, this included venturing ‘outside their comfort zone’ to report on the accessibility of public transport not common to their experience. Further, we would like to thank the volunteers, carers and support workers involved in this project who provided direct care and support to participants - not only throughout their travel but also in documenting and photographing their experiences. The project partners gratefully acknowledge the support of: Report prepared by: Maree Kelly With assistance from: Kate Colvin Tanya Nikolovski Jess Fritze Management Committee: Staff: Kate Colvin VCOSS Phase 1: Graham Smith DRC Project Worker Glenn Cardwell Martin Lecky DRC Phase 2: Frank Hall- Bentick DRC Project Worker Margaret Stevens Anthony Giles-Peters DRC Project Coordinator Maree Kelly Justine Summers DAIS Phase 3: Project Coordinator Maree Kelly ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WatCH PROJECT Executive Summary: The Accessible Public Transport Watch Project was commissioned by a number of disability organisations and was proudly sponsored by the Reichstein Foundation and the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. The project attempted to critically examine whether the implementation of the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport (DSAPT) in Victoria is meeting the varied needs of people with a range of disabilities. The project aimed to investigate, monitor and report on the useability of the public transport system and new transport infrastructure from a passenger perspective. Ultimately the project aims to use this information to improve accessibility outcomes for people with a disability as well as increasing awareness of transport accessibility issues for transport operators, government and the general public. This report provides a first hand account of over 130 peoples’ experiences of accessing public transport across Victoria over a three month period. This information was gathered using a series of six surveys about Melbourne’s trains, tram and buses as well regional local buses and V/Line trains and coaches. The project received 115 surveys and 17 additional written submissions. Survey participants had a range of disabilities and were grouped into five categories for the purpose of analysis. These categories were: wheel chair bound, mobility impairment, vision impairment, hearing impairment and cognitive impairment. The project was widely promoted throughout the disability sector, local government and public transport networks. Information sessions were held across the state to enable people to identify areas of concern and receive training in completing the surveys. This process helped to bring people together, encourage participation and improve data collection. This report found that the useability of the public transport system including accessible infrastructure installed under the DSAPT varies considerably for people with different types of disability. Key findings included: • many participants reported difficulty accessing accurate travel information; • in the outer metropolitan areas of Melbourne and regional Victoria in particular, there is an over reliance on buses as a viable form of public transport that is currently inaccessible for people with disabilities in most instances; • the implementation of Tactile Ground Surface Indicators (TGSIs) has supported accessibility for people with vision impairment however it has raised some difficulties for others with differing types of disability and issues remain with the logic and location of its installation; • getting to the stop or station was identified as a difficulty by a number of people with mobility impairments – this needs to be addressed through broader changes to the accessibility of the built environment; • participants identified difficulties boarding trains due to the varying size of the gap between the train and the platform, the inaccessibility of ramps for mobility impaired people who are ambulant and difficulties opening doors; • participants using the tram system were particularly concerned with the lack of accessible trams, feeling unsafe due to the rocking of the vehicle and lack of boarding information; • level crossing safety remains a pressing concern, with the very serious consequences of inadequately safe crossings highlighted by recent deaths of people using wheelchairs; and • participants were concerned about their physical safety and the general standard of cleanliness provided on the public transport system. The report has identified a number of recommendations which will inform the discussion and debate around the accessibility of Victoria’s public transport. These recommendations will be of interest to a variety of stakeholders including the Victorian and Commonwealth Governments, public transport operators, local government, disability service organisations and the wider community. The common and critical issue of public transport accessibility brought together many people who previously had no direct links to the community or disability sector. It is hoped that the networks established through the Accessible Public Transport Watch Project will continue to come together to support ongoing systemic advocacy and consumer engagement across the state on public transport accessibility issues. ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WatCH PROJECT Accessible Public Transport Watch Project Final Report 1. Contents Executive Summary: ..................................................................................... 2 1. Contents .................................................................................................. 3 2. Background ............................................................................................ 4 3. Scope ....................................................................................................... 4 4. Research methodology ............................................................................ 4 5. Context ................................................................................................... 6 6. Report findings ......................................................................................... 6 Information before travel ..................................................................... 9 Getting to your stop or station 10 Level crossings .......................................................................... 11 Waiting for the train, tram or bus ......................................................... 12 Audible announcements ............................................................. 13 Tickets ........................................................................................ 14 Toilets ......................................................................................... 15 Lighting ....................................................................................... 17 Shelters and seating .................................................................. 17 Tactile ground surface indicators (TGSIs) ................................. 18 Getting to your platform ...................................................................... 19 Ramps ........................................................................................ 20 Lifts ............................................................................................ 21 Boarding the vehicle ............................................................................ 21 Buses (including V/Line coaches and Metropolitan buses)........ 21 Trains ......................................................................................... 22 Trams ......................................................................................... 27 Motor scooters ........................................................................... 29 On the vehicle ..................................................................................... 29 Metro bus and local buses in rural and regional areas .............. 29 V/Line buses ............................................................................. 30 ACCESSIBLE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WatCH PROJECT Metropolitan trains ...................................................................... 30 V/Line trains ............................................................................... 31 Trams ........................................................................................

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